Grading apparatus



March 5, 1957 R. L. GRIFFIN ETAL 2,783,882

GRADING APPARATUS` Filed July 26. 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet l mem?, r wam E mmf; QT ww wn, n.unnuuuul h n H n xlllllrllhv u aaa S.

March 5, 1957 R. L. GRIFFIN ETAL GRADING APPARATUS Filed July 26, 195] 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 MLM March 5, 1957 R. GRIFFIN' ETAL GRADING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 26, 19.51

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GRADING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July V26, 1951 leverden; 09' #www 'Jahn/)Z l YM March 5, 1957 R. GRIFFIN ETAL 2,783,882

GRADING APPARATUS` v Filed July 26, 1951 s sheets-sheet 5 R. GRIFFIN :TAL 2,783,882

March 5 1 957 GRADING APPARATUS 8 'Sheets-Sht 6 Filed July 26, 1951 4 i y M March 5, 1957 vR. L. GRIFFIN ETAL 2,783,882v

GRADING APPARATUS Fild July 26, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 March 5, 1957 R. L. GRIFFIN ETAL 28,783,882

GRADING APPARATUS Filed July 25, 1951 zal zal?,

nited States Patent GRADING APPARATUS Roger L. Griiln, Marblehead, and John H. Mains, Beverly, Mass., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Swift & Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application `luly 26, 1951, Serial No. 238,616 14 claims.' (ci. zoe-ss) tion to provide a grading machine which will grade innersoles or other sheet material in accordance with the thickness thereof, which will determine which soles are wedge shaped, which is entirely automatic in operation, which does not depend upon the skill of the operator to give consistent results, which can be readily adjusted to take innersoles of different sizes, which stamps the graded soles, which is rapid in operation, which is trouble free and requires a minimum of maintenance,

which reduces the handling of the innersoles to a 'minimum and which advances the art generally.

IIn a principal aspect the invention contemplates apparatus for grading sheet material such as innersoles or -other irregular shaped stock which apparatus comprises means such as a conveyor for feeding successive sheets along a predetermined pa-th defined for example by one or more tracks or rails along which the sheets are propelled by means of a belt or other continuously moving member. Depending upon the number of groups or lots into which the sheets are to be graded, one or more grading stations are positioned along the path. The various stations are similar except for the thickness determining setting thereof, which-when more than one station is required, is made greater for each succeeding` station so that only maximum limit or setting must be made. at each station, the minimum limit being deterniinedby the settingof thepreceding station. Each station includes gauging means, for example ouef'or more .grading rolls supported at the .end of a respective bell crank to Contact the upper surface of a sole or other sheet in the station which means isarranged tooperate a gate to deflect' or divert the sole s A :the thickness ythereof is less than the predetermined-setting.v To prevent the gauging means from giving .false indications in the absence of a sole in the station detecting means, such as a finger for contacting the sole located beyond the gauging means in the direction of the Itravel of the sole, is interlocked either mechanically or electrically to prevent the opening of the gate. Y' A' lIn another aspect a second gate is located so that in its op'en position the the first gate. ing means whenever the thickness of the sole is greater than a predetermined maximum setting so that such soles, which are generally termed wedgie`s, i. e. the difference between the maximum and minimum thickness exceeds a selected value, are separated from the other soles having the same minimum thickness.

In another aspect the first gate is operated by an electrical solenoid which is energized from an external power source by means of a control circuit having at least two from lthe path when gate intercepts the soles diverted by The second gate is operated by the gaugy 2,783,882 Patented Mar. 5, 1957 switches one of which is closed when the gauging means indicates a thickness less than the predetermined setting, the other switch being closed by the trip member of the detecting means only when a sole is in the station. To maintain the irst gate in the open position for a sulficient length of time to permit the sole to pass therethrough and to prevent high measurements made subsequent to a minimum measurement from closing the gate Vthe coil of a holding relay is connected in parallel with the gate solenoid and the normally open relay contacts are connected in parallel with the switch operated by the gauging means to complete a holding circuit for energizing the gate solenoid irrespective of the opening of .the switch. To reset the gate and the holding relay, a further-:switch is connected in series with the control circuit.` The further switch is operated by trip means located in front of the gauging means where it is con- ,tacted by the succeeding sole to open the switch and interrupt the circuit so that the gate closes.

A- further feature of the invention is a magazine for holding a stack of soles or other sheet stock so'that the lower surface of the bottommost sole is engaged by projections, which are preferably a plurality of pointed stylus pivotally mounted in a transverse row upon a slidable carriage, so that the sole is removed from the bottom of the stack by a reciprocal movement of the carriage for example by means of a power operated cam. To prevent nonengagement' by the stylus when the stack has only -a few soles thereupon, suction means are provided to draw the sole against the stylus, a gate restrain ing the movement of all but the bottommost sole. More specifically in a preferred construction, the magazine comprises an apertured base plate whereupon the stack rests and a plurality of upright members located upon either side of the base plate to provide lateral support for the stack. Preferably these upright members are provided with adjustable backing means, such as pins projecting from conjointly rotatable members for engaging opposed members whereby the magazine size can be varied to accommodate various sized soles. An adjustable stop or plate is located at the opposite end of the base plate from the gate so that the effecting magazine length can be varied. Preferably the stop is moved by a cam which is operated conjointly with the rotatable member so that a single operation adjusts the magazine to receive a stack of soles of any selected size. These and other objects, aspects and features will be apparent from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention referring to drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of the front end of the specific embodiment;

, Fig 2 is a side elevation view of the rear end of the same embodiment;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view showing the details of the driving mechanism; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation View of the panel for the electrical components of one of the grading stations;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the grading stations; F IFig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 6 6 of ig. 6;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 5; Y Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation view of the magazine;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the magazine;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a sectional v iewson line 12-12 of Fig. 114;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary viewvshowing the details of the magazine carriage;

Fig. 14 is an exploded isometric view of the carriage; Iand Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram iof oneof the grading stations showing the electrical connections.

The particular embodiment of the invention i-s-a grading machine which is particularly adapted for 'grading inner soles. The soles :are manually stacked in amarga;- zine from which they are sequentially fed to a conveyor; At .spaced locations along the conveyor are `several grading stations, each of whichhas a gate arranged to divert to .an auxiliary conveyor soles having a minimum Vthickness less thanv a predetermined setting of the station. 'Bhe setting of each succeeding station .is made greater than that ofthe preceding `stations so thatrsoles passing. along the conveyor are separated intofgroups or lots havngsa minimum thickness` not greater than tlr'e predetermined setting of the diverting station but greater than thepre determined Vsetting of the preceding station. .Eachi statiorrisy also provided with a second Lgateifory separating wedgies, i. e., soles with a different between the-'maxi mum and minimum thickness lgreater Athan a selected amount. Although any number of stations can beprovided, it. has been found convenient to use-'ten stations which grade from 11/2 iron (IVe/48 inch) to 6 iron (6/48) in steps of 1/2. iron.

vAs is best shown in Figs. l, 3, 7 and 8 the grading machine comprises a frame formed of two channels 2l) and 21 arranged with their flanges turned inwardly 'so that they are facing each other. The channels A and 21 are supported by a plurality of leg membersV 22 Varansa-ssa ranged in'pars which are disposed in spaced relationship.

Adjacent each leg member 22 the corresponding channel is reinforced by a short angle member 24 which is located beneath the channels. The spacing of the channels` 20 `and 21 is maintained by the angle members 26` (Figs. 3 and 7). A plurality of panels such as the plates 28 areheld in an erect position at intervals along the channel 21 by the flange of a corresponding channel 30 which rests upon the top ange of the channel 20. Upon the opposite side of thefframe at either end of each of the plates 28v are ytwo smaller plates 32 and 34 which are held `erect'on thechannel 21 by angle members 36 and 38 respectively. Bolted to the inner surfaces of the plates 28, 32'and` 34 'are strips 40, 42 (Fig. 8i) and 44 (Fig. 7)' whereupon are carried the tips of theilangestwo-angle members 46 yand 48 respectively so that the otheranges ofthe'rnen'n bers are disposed in parallel relationship to eachV other. Fastened tothe top ofthe angl-e membersA 46'and 48fare two4 strips 5.0. of cold rolled steel whichacts as' a: track along which the inner soles are moved by ra' Vbelt52; as5will begdescribegl in detail hereinafter. y

The V-belt 52 is carried in a plurality ofsh'e'a'ves v54 spaced along the trackV formedl by: thecstripsatl. lach sheave 54 is journaled upon one end of an arm-56 (Fig. '45)l whose other end ispivotally attachedptol anangle member 53 which is fastened to thev plates. 32. vBelow each'of the-sheaves 54;is a respectiveroll 60 which is Carried on a shaft 62 (Fig. 6) whichis journaled inthe angle members 46 and 48 so that the roll extends-upwardly between the vertical flanges of thezangle members to contact the outer surface of the V-belt 52;as.,the:belt passes over the bottom of the sheaves 54. At thesfront end ofthemachine the V-belt 52 passes from the topzof the sheaves 54, thence under an idler sheave 66 (Fig..3`.),'

reductionunit yI4 drives a sprocket fastened to the same shaft as the idlcr'sheave 70 by means of a chain 76.

The inner soles are successively fed between the track strips 50 and the V-belt 52 by means of la magazine 75 such as is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The magazine 7S comprises 'a bed plate 78 whereupon are stacked the inner soles between two channel shaped housings 80 and 82 with the heel portions thereof abutting the vertical end wall `of the housing 80 as is shown vin Fig. 11. The =to`e` portions Vof 'the soles lie adjacent an inclined panel l34 which forms a chute Vto guide the vsoles into position to be picked up by the ejector mechanism as will be `described below. The-upper end of the panel A84 is pivotally attached as at 86 to the side walls of the housing 82. The lower end of the panel 84 has a tong-ue 86 (Fig. 12) which extends through an opening in the bed plate 78. The position of the panel 84 is adjustable to accommodate .soles of variouslen'gths' by means of- 'a1-cylindrical cam 88 whosecamme'd end surface bearsiagainstthe head of'a cap. scrcw'90' extending from the baclcV of. thepa'nel. The eam- 88-iscarried upon a shaft'92 one end of trahie-hl isjournaled in a boss 94Y beneath". the bed plate 7-8. The other `'end :of the Vshaft 92 is jou'rn-aled in the end wall of the' housing 82. y The latter' shaft end has fastened thereto a cam operating knob 96 (Fig. 9) and a calibrated dial 98' Afor.` 'indicating the setting of the cam for various sole sizes;

As both the Width and length of diterent size soles vary,V it is necessary that the upright members 100 and 102, which are located on either side of the magazine which provide. lateral support for -the stack of sole'sfat poiuts'- nearthe heel and toe, are also made adjustable. To thise'ndV the upper ends of the members 100 and 102 larefpivotall'y' attached to pins 104 and 106 whichl extend horizontally' from the side Walls of the housing and 82 respectively. The lower end of the opposed upright members 100, which bear against the sides of the heel portions ofthe stack ofsoles, are selectively held in posi tion by means of pins 108 radially projecting from 're'- spective drums 110. The upright members 102 are simi"- larly positioned by pins 112 extending from drums 114;

A1 shaft 116-is-journaled upon either side of the maga- Zinein bearing brackets 118 and 120 which extend from the housings 80 and" 82 respectively. Each of thelshafts 1-16"has fastened thereto one of the drumsllrand 114 and' is rotated by'means of' a gear 122 (Fig.` 10) which engages agear l124 fastened to the shaft 92 so that-rotating the knob 5 96 simultaneously adjusts the positions of upright 'membersA4 100 and 102 and the panel 84 to accommodateinnersoles of`any selected size. As is shown' in Fig: 1 1, both right and" left' hand soles of any selected size'vcan bestacls'ed'interchangeably in the` magazine'75', thefuprightvmembers 100. and102 being spaced; and airangdso as to Contact thefsdeg-of the solesatzpoints whefef the width'ofibotli" the' right andlefthand soles 'is thefsamel Thebottommost sole'in'the stack inthe magazine 75 isY pushed :forward by means of'projections such as'the thence about lak large idler sheave 64, and thence over the top of sheaves 54 to the front end of the machine. At the rear end of the machine, the V-belt` 52 passesfaround a driven sheave (Fig. 2), thence under-anidler sheave 68 and basl: over the sheaves 54. The drive for-.the sheave 70 consists of an electric motor 72 which is conf` nected. to the input shaft of a speed` recluctionrunit V74 by meansof a belt 76. The'output shaitof the speed stylus' 126 (Fig: 13)' which extends upwardly through arslotted aperture in the magazine bed plate 7s from a arria'ge;1'25' which is reciprocally driven as will be def critiche-detail hereinafter; VThe stylos 126 aremounted in row transverse to' the direction of movement ofv the carriage 125iu a holder 128 (Fig. l2) which is 'p'ivotally' mountedjin a cavityV in the frontportion 130 of thejcarriagemlZSin aholder 128 (Fig. 12) which is pivo'rauyjrneunted in a cavityV in the front portion 130 ofethc'carriag'e .125. Clockwise movement of the holder 1V2 Y8(as"viewed in'Fig. l2) is limited bythe head of a oap 'screw 132'whioh. acts as a stop to engage a pin 134 extending from the holder so that the stylus 126l proA jects througha transverse opening in a cover plate 1.36 '(Figjl) for the top of the carriagefront portionn130. Aslis'hest'shown inFg. 14the front portion 130 is B'olted -to an H-sh'aped member 138'whose opposed arms are provided with apertures bushings 142 (Fig. 13). Y gage two rods 144 which are suspended belowthe bed plate 78 by means of brackets 145 and 148 so that the carriage 125 is movable with respect to the remainder of the magazine 75. Upon the working portion of the stroke (i. e. towards the left as viewed in Fig. 12), the stylus 126 are held in the inclined position shown by the stop 132 so that they engage the under surface of the bottommost sole of the stack thereby to move the sole between two pairs of driven rolls 150 and 152. To prevent the possible ejection of more than one sole at a time a gate 154 is provided which gate is secured to a shaft 156 journaled in the side walls of the housing 80. The shaft 156 has secured to one end thereof an arm 158 which is biased against a stop screw 168 by a spring 162 so that the gate 154 is yieldably held with its lower edge in position to permit only the bottommost sole to pass. Upon the return stroke of the carriage 125, the holder 128 pivots counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 12) so that the stylus are retracted below the surface of the cover plate 136.

The weight of the stack forces the bottommost sole into engagement with the stylus 126, but to make certain that there is no slippage therebetween when only a few soles are in the stack, suction means are provided to force the bottommost sole into1 engagement with the stylus. portion 130 of the carriage 12S is provided with a plurality of longitudinally disposed openings (see Figs. 13 and 14) and a vacuum created in the cavity thereunder by connecting a fitting 164 (Fig. 12) in the bottom of the front portion with a similar fitting 166 in a valve 168 by means of a flexible hose (not shown). The other valve fitting 170 is connected with a vacuum pump P (Fig. 3). The valve 168 is operated in timed relaship with respect to the movement of the carriage 125 as will be described hereinafter so that the suction is applied to the bottommost sole only during the working portion of the stroke.

Extending downwardly from the rear end ofthe H- shaped member 138 of the carriage 125 is an arm 172 (Fig. 14). to receive one end of a between being made by 140 wherein are pressed rod 174, the connection therea pin 176. The opposite end of the rod 174 slides in an aperture in an end plate 178- secured to the housing 82. Extending downwardly from the rod 174 is a bolt 180 to which is connected one end of a strong helical spring 182. As is best shown in Fig. 9, the opposite end of the spring 182 is secured to the wall of the lower portion of the housing 80 as at 183 so that the carriage 125 is moved forwardly upon its working stroke by the force exerted by the spring. The

return stroke of the carriage 125 against the biasing force exerted by the spring 182 is accomplished by means of a cam 184 which bears against a follower 187 mounted on the side of the rod 174. The cam 184 is mounted upon the end of a shaft 186, which also carries a second cam 188 for periodically operating the air valve 168 through a lever 190, and a `driven sprocket 192 (Fig. 9) for a chain 194. The opposite end of the chain 194 passes around a smaller sprocket 196 carried upon fa shaft 198 which also carries a sprocket wheel 200 (Fig. for a driving chain 282. The opposite end of the chain 292 is driven by a second sprocket wheel 284 (Fig. 3) on the output shaft of a speed reductio-n unit 286 which together with the vacuum pump P and a common driving motor 208 is mounted upon a pair of angle members 210 extending between the legs 22 at the front end of the machine.

The shaft 198 in addition to the sprocket 200 also carries the two bottom rolls 152 and :a gear 212 (Fig. 9) which mates with an idler gear 214. The gear 214 engages a gear 216 carried upon a shaft 218 which lat- The bushings 142 slidably en#` To this end the cover plate 136 for the front The bottom end of the arm 172 is bifurcated 6 ter gear engages a gear 220 mounted upon on en d of a stub shaft 222 extending through a slotted aperture in the side wall of the housing 8,0. The shaft 222 is journaled in a bearing in the end of an arm 224 whose other end is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 218. The opposite end of the stub shaft 156. The second roll stub shaft which is journaled in the end of an a-rm 226 (Fig. l0) land has secured to its opposite end a gear 22,8. The gear 228 mates with a gear 230 upon the shaft 218 thereby to drive the second roll 150. As the gears 212, 214, 216, 220, 228 and 230 are of the same size, both pair of upper and lower rolls 150 and 152 are ldriven at the same speed. The pivotal movement of the arms 224 and 226 about the shaft n raising of the upper rolls 150 against theforce exerted by sp'rings 229 acting through the push rods 231 which are pivotally attachedto the ends of the arms 224 ,and 226'respectively, tliereby to accommodate soles ofy Ydifferent thicknesses without interfering with the clrivingA 21,8 permits the thereof.

After the stylus Y126 have fdelivered the bottommost sole in the magazine 125 to the rolls 150 and 152 as has 'been described heretofore, `theserolls advance thersole so 'that it is inserted between the track strips 50 and the portion of the V-belt 52 adjacent the bottom of the sheave 64 (Fig. 3). As the friction exerted by the cold rolled track strips 5) upon the bottom of the sole, is much less than the friction exerted upon the top of the sole by the V-be'lt 52, the belt acts as a conveyor carrying the sole along with it through the successive grading stations.

As allv the grading stations are identical in construction and operation, diiering only in their settings, only one of the stations will be described in detail. The grading at each station is done by two grading rolls 230 which traverse parallel lines near the outer edge of the sole as it passes through the station. As is best shownv in Fig. 6, eacfh grading roll 230l is rotatably mounted upon one end of a respective bell crank 232 which bell cranks are positioned upon either side of the particular sheave 54 located at the station. The track strips 50k fand the angle members 46 are cut away to accommodate an idler roll 234 which is journaledupon a shaft 236 extending between the side plates 28 and 32 so that the roll is located immediately below the grading rolls 230. The shaft 236 is stationary and the portion carrying the -roll 234 is eccentric with respect to the remainder of the slraft whereby the shaft may be manually turned by means of a sleeve 238 (Fig. 7) keyed thereto to permit a quick yet ne adjustment in the thickness setting. The shaft 236 is locked in adjusted position by means of a nut 240. Y

The bell cranks 232 are pivotally mounted upon a shaftV 242 (Fig. 6) which extends between the side plates 28` and 32. Each bell crank 232 is individually biased by means of a respective spring 244, which extends between the vertical arm of the bell crank to a bridge 246 spanning the distance between the side plates 28 and 32 so that the grading rolls 230 are urged against the idlerV roll 234.` In this position of the grading rolls 230 the ends of the vertical arms of the respective bell cranks 232 are in forcible contact with two adjustable pins such as the cap screws 248 each of which is threaded in an aperture in the upper end of correlated pivoted members 250.

222 carries one of the rollsY l is carried upon a similar arsassa automatic in operation, an attendant merely being required to replenish the stack of soles in the magazine 75. The magazine 75 is readily adapted to receivey a stack of soles of a different size by rotation of the knob 96, as has been described heretofore, appropriate indicia corresponding to the various sole sizes being marked on the dial 98 so that an exact adjustment can be readily made. As has been described in detail heretofore, the stylus 126 pivotally mounted on the top of the reciprocating carriage 125 successively ejects the bottommost sole in the stack so that such sole is forwarded by the rolls 15) and 152 to the conveyor belt 52. The belt 52 moves the soles along the track strips 59 to the first grading station whose grading rolls 230 are set to close the switch s2 whenever the distance between either of the grading rolls and the associated idler roll 234 is less than 2 iron (i. e. 34g of an inch).

The action of the various elements of the station can best be understood by reference to the schematic diagram of Fig. 15 wherein the large arrow A indicates the travel of the sole through the station. During such travel a sole, which has a minimum thickness of less than 11/2 iron, sequentially: (l) lifts the finger 270 to transfer the contacts of the switch s1, (2) permits either or both of the grading rolls 236 to fall below .the minimum setting of the station, and (3) lifts the finger 276 to transfer the contacts of the switch s4. Upon the completion of the three above operations a circuit is completed energizing the gate solenoid Lg from the terminals a and c of a conventional power source (not shown) which circuit includes the terminala, a conductor w1, the switch s1, a conductor W2, the switch s4, a conductor W3, the switch s2, conductors W4, W5 and W6, the gate solenoid Lg and a conductor W7 to the terminal c. The solenoid L1 of a holding relay Rl is connected in parallel with the gate solenoid Lg by a conductor w8 so that the two solenoids are energized simultaneously. The energization of the solenoid L1 closes the normally open contacts sa and sb of the relay R1. The closing of the contacts sa completes a circuit including a conductor W9, the relay contacts and a conductor w10 which parallels the contacts of the switch s1. The closing of contacts sb and sa completes a holding circuit including from terminal a, the conductor W9, contacts sa, conductor w10, conductor W2, the switch s4, conductor w12, conductor w11, the switch contacts sb, conductor W5, the coil of L1, conductor W8, and the terminal c so that opening of the switch contacts upon the raising of one of the grading rolls by a subsequent high spot in the sole does not deenergize the gate solenoid Lg. The gate solenoid Lg remains energized, after the switches s1 and .s4 have transferred back to their original positions due to the travel of the sole beyond the fingers 270 and 276, by means of a circuit including the terminal a, the conductor W9, the holding relay contacts sa, conductor w10, the contacts of the switch s1 which are closed by the finger 270 in the absence of a sole, conductors w13 and w11, the holding relay contacts sb, the conductor W6, the gate solenoid Lg and the conductor W7 to the terminal c. A counter C1 is energized by the closing of the contacts of the switch s4 by the dropping of the finger 276, after the sole has passed, to complete a circuit including the terminal c, the conductor w8, the counter C1, the normally closed contacts sd of a relay R2, whose function will be described below, a conductor w14, the switch s4, the conductors w12 and w13, the switch s1, the conductor w10, the holding relay contacts sa and the conductor W9 to the terminal a.

Inasmuch as the gate solenoid Lg is energized by the above described circuits, the gate members 282 are lifted so that the sole is diverted downwardly through the stamping roll 292, which stamps the legend corresponding to the thickness graded by the station, and thence to the conveyor 335 as has been described in detail heretofore.

The gate solenoid Lgis deenergized to close the gate i switch s1 breaking the circuit energizing the gate solenoid through the relay contacts sa and sb as described above.

If the thickness of the sole diverted by the station is more than a predetermined amount greater than the minimum thickness, the sole is a so called wedgie and one or both of the grading rolls 230 rise sufficiently so that the corresponding bell crank 232 causes the lever 258 to release the actuator of the switch s3 closing the switch contacts. Upon the making of the contacts rof." the switch s3, the solenoid L2 of the relay R2 is energized by means of a circuit including the terminal a, the switch s3, the conductors w15 and W17, the solenoid L2, and the conductors w18 and WS to the terminal c.` The making of the contacts of the switch s3 energizes the solenoid Lg as has been described heretofore, this contact to be made in switch .S5y through the actuation of bell crank 286. The wedgie gate solenoid Lw is energized by a circuit including the terminal a, the switch s3, a conductor .wl5, the interlocking switch S5, which is closed by the opening of the track gate members 282, the solenoid and a conductor W16 to the terminal c. A wedgie counter connected in parallel with the solenoid Lw is also energized by the completion of the above circuit. The operation of the relay R2 opens the contacts sd so that the counter c1 is not operated by the closing of the switch s4 as was described in detail heretofore in connection with the passing of a regular sole through the station. The conjoint closing of the normally open relay contacts sc completes a holding circuit paralleling the switch s3 so that the subsequent opening of the switch does not deenergize the relay solenoid L2 and th'e wedgie gate solenoid LW This holding circuit includes from the terminal c, conductor W8, conductor w8, the coil of L2, contacts se, conductor W10, contacts sa, conductor W9 and the terminal a.

If the sole passing through the first grading station has a minimum thickness greater than the 11/2 iron setting ofthe grading rolls 230, the rolls do not drop far enough to permit the contacts of the switch s2 to close so that the circuit energizing the gate solenoid Lg is not completed. As the gate 282 is not opened, the sole passes over the top of the gate to continue through the succeeding stations until a station is reached which has a setting such as to trip the switch s2 operated by the grading rolls whereupon the sole is diverted in a manner similar to that described in detail above in connection with the first station. As has been mentioned heretofore the energization of the gate solenoid Lg is possible only when the contacts of the switches s1, r2, and s4 are all closed. It will be evident that during the passing of a sole through a grading station, the finger 270 will drop off `the sole first making the gauging circuit inoperative so that the subse-r quent dropping otf of thesole of the rolls 230 does not result in a false indication.

It should be understood that the present disclosure Vis for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which falll within the scope of the appended claims. l We claim:V

V1. Apparatus for grading sheet material comprising means for feeding a sheet along a predetermined path; and a grading station including a gate positioned in the path and having an operating solenoid for opening the gate to divert the sheet from the path, a control circuit including a power supply for operating the gate, said circuit having two switches connected in series with said power supply and said solenoid, a holding relay having normally open contacts connected in parallel with the first switch and a coil for transferring the contacts connected in parallel with the gate solenoid, gauging means for closing the first of said switches when the thickness of the sheet is less than a predetermined setting thereby y11 Y tolpei'ate the .gate and' energize the'` relay 'when thesecond switch is closed, and detecting means .including ajtrip member located in-saidrpath at s aid station, said trip member being operated by the sheet tov close thejsecond switch thereby preventing the operation of Ythe'gate" upon the closing of the first switch in the Vabsence .of a sheet atu the station. Y p

Apparatus for grading sheet material comprising means for feeding a sheet along @predetermined-path; and a. grading station including a gate positioned in the path 'and having an operating solenoid for opening the gaterto divert thesheet from thevpathfa control circuit includingV a power supply for operating the gate, said circuit Shaving three switches connectedv in .series with saidpower supply and said solenoid, a holding relay-having'itwo pair of normally open contacts and a lcoil for transferring the contacts connectedin parallel withthe gate solenoid, the first parir of contacts lbeing connected in parallel with the first switch, `the second pair of confacts: being connected in parallelwith thesecond switch, gauging means for closing the first of said switches when the thickness of the sheet is less Vthan a predetermined se'tting'thereby to operate the gate and conjointlyto energize the relay when the second switch is closed, the first pair of relay contacts completing a holding circuit to maintain the gate open in the event of the opening ofthe rst switch, detecting means including a first trip member located beyond the gauging means inthe direction'of travel of the sheet, said trip member being operated by the sheet to close the third switch therebygpreventing the operation'of the gate upon the closing of the iirst switch in the absence of a sheet at the station and a second trip member located before the gauging means in a direction opposed to the direction of travel of the'sheet, Isaid second tripmember being operated'by a succeeding sheet to open the second switch thereby to deenergize the ysolenoid thus closing thegate. y Y

3. Apparatus for grading ,sheet material "comprising means for feeding a sheet along a predeterminedpath; and a gradingsta'tion including a lirstgatefpositioned inthe path and hai/'ing 4an operating solenoid for opening the ,gate to divert the sheet from the path, a control circuit including a power supply for operating the gate, 'said circuit havingv two switches connected in `series with said "power supply and saidsolenoid, aholding 'relay having two pair of normally open contacts .and a 'coil lfor"transter-ring,the contacts connectedin parallel with tle"g`ate"solenoid,'the irstpair of Ycontracts being connected` in Yparallel with the first switch, gauging means 'for closing the tirst ofsaid switches when the thickness of 'the' sheet is less than a predeterminedsetting thereby t'o operate'the gate and conjointly tofenergizethe relay when' the secondA switchis closed, theitirstn pairrof relay contacts coinpleting aholdin'g "circuit-to maintain `the gtejopen upon the 'subsequentopeing-of Athe iirstf'switch, detecting means including a trip member located beyond thegauging means inthe direction ,of travelof the sheet,

said 'trip -rn'ernbe being operated by the sheet to :close thesecoiid switch thereby preventing the' operation` of the gate upon 'the Closing of the ii'rst switch, inathefab- .sence of a sheet at the station, a second gate jhavingan operating solenoid for opening the. gate, said second gate being'located when inthe openpositionrtoiintercept sheets diverted by the Vopening of v the "iirstrga'te, and a control ircuitfor energizing the second gate, whichcircuitfgincludes the second'pair 'of "contacts anda switch closed by `the gaugingV means lwhen lthe 'thickness of the sheet is greater'tlian a'predetermined'maiiiniumsetting.

f4. 'Apparatus for-'grading sheet material comprising y s for feedinga sheet along a .predeteiminedpatm afnd a'aigrading station inclndingla i'irst vgate positioned Vin ifm-rn ad havnt an @eine solenoid @wenn nte 'gate to-diver'tith'esheet nomine-pam, a 'control 'circuit wie cxx'cuithaving thiee "switches connectedi 'series with `said agresss power supply and lsaid solenoid, a holdingfrelay having two pair Aof normally open contacts and a coilffor-transferring Athe contacts connected in-fparallel with ther-,gate solenoid, theufirstfpair of contacts being connectedin parallel4 with the irst switch, the second pairof-con tacts being connected in parallel with the second switch, gauging means for closing theirst of said switches when the thickness of the sheet is less than a predetermined setting thereby to operate the'gate vand conjointly `to energize the relay when the second switch isiclosed, the first pair of relay contacts completing a holding circuit to maintain the gate open in event of the subsequent openingof the vfirst switch, detecting ymeans including a -first trip member jlocated beyond thegauging means inthe direction of travel of lthersheet, saidtrip memberbeing operated by the sheet to close the :third switch-thereby preventing the operation of the gate upon the closing of the first switch in the absence of a sheet at the station, and a jsecond'trip member located-'before'thegauging means in a direction opposed to the direction of travel of the sheet, said second trip member being operated by a `succeeding sheet to open the second switch therebyjto deenergi'ze the solenoid thus closing thergate, a secondgate having an operating solenoid foi-opening the gate,said second gate being located when in the open positionto intercept sheetsA diverted by the openingiof the tirstggate, and a control -circuit for energizing the second gate, which circuit includes the second pair of contacts anda switch closed by the gauging means when the thickness of the sheetis greater than a ypredetermined maximum setting.

5. Apparatus for grading sheet materialcomprising a conveyor including a belt for feedinga sheetalong a predetermined path; and a'grading station 4including --a iirs'tY g'te having a lingeron either Iside of-the belt, a solenoid for rotating the lingers into thef path to'divert the sheet from'the path, gauging means including an elec- 't'rical' circuit having'a normally closed switch for en ergi'zing the gatesolenoid, a member biased tomaintain the Aswitfc'zh in its open position, a bel1 crank located on either Asi'deof said belt, each of said c rankshaving-fa roller at one end thereof," the other end of said levers contacting said member when the thickness of the Asheet at the station -is less than a predetermined setting -to permit the switch to close'lthereby to operate the-gate to 'removethe' sheet from thebelt, detecting means fo1- ,in- 'terrupting the circuit in thehabsence of asheetlat the station to prevent theferiergization-.of the'gate4 solenoid, a 'second'ga'telocated when in the fopen lposition to intercept"'sh'eets diverted from the path bythe iirstffgate--a 'second solenoid foi-*opera'ting'the second gate, jand-acir- 4cuit including a normally openv switch for'en'ergizing'the secondsolenoid, amember operated byveither bell crank to close thenoiirnally open Vswitch when theY thickness `rof the' sheet is greater thanV a predetermined maximum setting.

*6. Apparatus according -'to Vclaim Sf'wherein aninterlocking' switch in the circuit lof the secondY gate is operated by the openingb'f the rst gate.

' Feedingapparatus for sheet materialcomprising a magazineffor holding a stack tof sheets,I ejecting means at one'end of fsaidmagazi'ne including projections foi" en- 'gaging-'the surface of the 'endi'nost'sheet'in 'the s'tacl'and suction v rn'eansY for drawing "the "sh'eet against fthe `"pioectionspmeans at said end having aforward'stroke'lfor -reciproca'tingthe projections transversely'of" the magazine in a direction substantially parallel"to'the "plane'offthe sheet and return' stroke, said projectionsb'eing pivoftally mounted so that they retract upon "the-'return stroke whereby kthe sheet 'is removed from vthe `'end of-thfstack, and ',I'gate means Vadjacent said'cnd fof'thefniagaziue and spaced YYlengthwise -therefrom fior ,-res'traini'ngfifthe iiio'vementrofall-except-the endmostsheet.

i. 8. A,Feeding apparatus; -foresheet lvnta'terial"t:i:np`risigf2a. magazine sfor yholding alfstack A'of`fsh.=,ets,--eieeting rrreahs including a carriage slidably mounted below the magaaesassa zine and having a cavity wherein are pivotally mounted a plurality of stylus in a row transverse to the direction of movement of the carriage so that the stylus engage the lower surface of the bottommost sheet in the stack, said cavity being arranged to be connected to a vacuum pump to draw the sheet against the stylus, means for reciprocating the carriage so that the stylus move the bottommost sheet in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of the sheet, the stylus retracting upon the return stroke whereby the sheet is removed from the bottom of the stack, and a gate for restraining the movement of all except the bottommost sheet.

9. Feeding apparatus for sheet material comprising a magazine including an apertured base plate for holding a stack of sheets and a plurality of upright members pivotally supported at their upper ends and located on either side of the base plate, backing means for said members so that the members provide lateral support for the stack, said backing means being adjustable to vary the position of the members so that the magazine can accommodate sheets of various widths, ejecting means including projections extending through the base plate aperture for engaging the lower surface of the bottommost sheet in the stack and suction means for drawing the sheet against the projections, means for reciprocating the projections to move the sheet alongthe base plate between the opposed upright members whereby the sheet is removed from the bottom of the stack, and a gate for restraining the movement of all except the bottommost sheet.

10. Feeding apparatus for sheet material comprising a magazine including an apertured base plate for holding a stack of sheets and a plurality of upright members pivotally supported at their upper ends and located on either side of the base plate, two conjointly rotatable members having pins for selectively engaging opposed upright members to provide lateral support for the stack, ejecting means including projections extending through the base plate aperture for engaging the lower surface of the bottommost sheet in the stack and suction means for drawing the sheet against the projections, means for reciprocating the projections to move the sheet along the base plate between the opposed upright members whereby the sheet is removed from the bottom of the stack, and a gate for restraining the movement of all except the bottommost sheet.

11. Feeding apparatus for sheet material comprising a magazine including an apertured base plate for holding a stack of sheets and a plurality of upright members pivotally supported at their upper ends and located on either side of the base plate, two conjointly rotatable members having pins for selectively engaging opposed upright members to provide lateral support for the stack, an adjustable stop located at one end of said base plate, ejecting means including projections extending through the base plate aperture for engaging the lower surface of the bottommost sheet in the stack and suction means for drawing the sheet against the projections, means for reciprocating the projections to move the sheet along the base plate between the opposed upright members whereby the sheet is removed from the bottom of the stack, and a gate located at the opposite end of the base plate from said stop for restraining the movement of all except the bottommost sheet.

12. Feeding apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a cam moves the stop conjointly with the rotatable members.

13. For sorting sheet material according to the thickness of each sheet, apparatus comprising means for feeding the sheets successively along a main path, a first de- -ector operable to divert individual sheets from said main path to a branch path, a second detiector operable to divert sheets from said branch path, gauging means located before said deectors in said main path and re sponsive to said sheets and adjustable through various conditions according to the varying thickness of each sheet as it is fed thereby, two switching means operably connecting said gauging means and said first and second deectors respectively, said gauging means having a least thickness condition corresponding to a predetermined least thickness of sheet in which it causes one of said switching means to operate said first delector, and each gauging means having a maximum thickness condition corresponding to a predetermined maximum thickness of sheet in which it causes the other of said switching means to operate said second deector, whereby sheets diverted from said main path by the first delector are sorted according to the range of variation between least and maximum thickness, and sensing means adjacent said gauging means for rendering the least thickness switching means operative only when a sheet is fed to said gauging means.

14. For sorting sheet material according to the thickness of each sheet, apparatus comprising means for feeding the sheets successively along a main path, a plurality of gauging means along said main path responsive to said sheets and adjustable thereby through various conditions according to the varying thicknesses of each sheet as it is fed thereby, operably connected with and following each gauging means a deector for diverting individual sheets from said main path into a branch path, each gauging means having a predetermined least thickness condition corresponding to a predetermined least sheet thickness in which condition it is eective to operate its deflector, an auxiliary deector in said branch paths respectively and operably connected to its respective gauging means, each gauging means also having a maximum thickness condition corresponding to a maximum sheet thickness in which itis etective to operate its auxiliary deector whereby after said first deector diverts sheets of said predetermined least thickness to said branch path said second deflector diverts from the branch path sheets whose thicknesses vary more than the difference between said least and maximum thicknesses, and sensing means adjacent said gauging means for rendering the least thickness switching means operative only when a sheet is fed to said gauging means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,645,118 Seabright Oct. 11, 1927 1,691,313 Toohey Nov. 13, 1928 1,738,818 Cogswell Dec. 10, 1929 1,930,266 Ford Oct. 10, 1933 1,943,940 Macadie et al. Ian. 16, 1934 2,073,697 Johnston Mar. 16, 1937 `2,146,581 Kaufman Feb. 7, 1939 2,290,852 Donovan July 28, 1942 2,368,796 Ardell Feb. 6, 1945 2,382,885 Landay et al. Aug. 14, 1945 2,393,614 Curtis Ian. 29, 1946 2,591,047 Burge et al. Apr. 1, 1952 

